Collaborations with several national Universities span multiple thematic areas, including Fire Prevention, BIM applications in infrastructure, energy engineering, and environmental sustainability. These synergies are realised through the funding or co-funding of PhD scholarships, university Master’s programmes, and research projects, with the aim of promoting innovation, fostering technology transfer, and actively contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the relevant disciplinary fields.
Below is a list of the main activities carried out in recent years or currently ongoing.
University Collaborations
PHD Programmes
PhD and Enterprises Study Centre
Politecnico di Torino – Department of Architecture and Design (DAD)
The Department of Architecture and Design (DAD) at Politecnico di Torino has promoted the PhD and Enterprises Study Centre, a structured collaboration platform between academia and industry aimed at transforming academic research into concrete solutions for the market and society.
The Centre was established in partnership with three Turin-based companies – Ai Engineering, Fantino Costruzioni and SECAP – along the thematic line “Construction Processes and Products”, dedicated to process and product innovation in the construction sector, addressing both new buildings and existing assets.
The model includes Apprenticeship PhDs supported by both academic and corporate tutors, integrating theoretical research with on-site experimentation through living labs at company offices and construction sites. Ai Engineering will fund a PhD scholarship focused on Digital Twin, predictive design, and Life Cycle Assessment, extending the analysis to the entire building life cycle. Particular emphasis is placed on CO₂ emission reduction as a cross-cutting indicator of design quality, environmental sustainability, and process efficiency.
“Performing the Invisible City” – PhD in “Arts, History and Society”
University of Bologna – Department of the Arts (DARvipem)
Ai Engineering has funded a PhD scholarship within the PhD Programme in “Arts, History and Society” at the University of Bologna, launched on November 1st, 2025.
The initiative supports a research project focused on sustainability assessments at the urban scale, with the aim of developing tools and methodologies capable of integrating environmental, social, and design dimensions into urban transformation processes.
The three-year doctoral programme aims to produce original scientific knowledge and strengthen dialogue between academia and the professional world. The developed theme is fully aligned with Ai Engineering’s research lines, which for over twenty years has promoted sustainable design strategies at different scales, from urban planning to building design.
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Politecnico di Torino
Ai Engineering has funded a PhD scholarship within the 39th cycle of the PhD Programme in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, launched in the academic year 2023/2024.
The initiative, co-funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4 “Education and Research”, supports a project focused on innovative topics such as BIM, Virtual and Augmented Reality applied to infrastructure projects, starting from Facility Management content.
The three-year doctoral programme includes research activities both at the University and within the company, fostering concrete integration between academic research and professional practice.
Through this commitment, Ai Engineering confirms its dedication to promoting technological innovation and knowledge transfer, strengthening structured collaboration with universities and contributing to the development of advanced skills in the strategic sectors of civil and environmental engineering.
Master’s Programmes
“Climate Change: adaptation and mitigation solutions”
Politecnico di Torino – Polito Master School
From academic year 2021/2022 to 2024/2025, Ai Engineering collaborated in the second-level university Master’s programme “Climate Change: adaptation and mitigation solutions”, contributing to a scholarship and actively participating through lectures, seminars, and professional testimonials.
The initiative strengthens dialogue between academia and industry and is part of the company’s broader commitment to promoting sustainable design solutions and developing advanced skills in climate resilience and environmental transition.
Expertise: Sustainability – Energy Engineering – Hydraulic Infrastructure
Research projects
Fire Safety Engineering and Virtual Reality: Applications for Optimising Safety Design
Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering
Ai Engineering carried out a research project with Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering – entitled “Fire Safety Engineering and Virtual Reality: Applications for Optimising Safety Design”, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Roberto Vancetti.
The objective of the project was to develop innovative solutions to enhance fire safety design through the integration of advanced digital tools and virtual reality environments.
Fire Safety of Building Envelopes: Performance Assessments and CFD Analyses Using Fire Safety Engineering Methods
Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering
Ai Engineering collaborated with Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering – on the research project “Fire Safety of Building Envelopes: Performance Assessments and CFD Analyses Using Fire Safety Engineering Methods”, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Roberto Vancetti.
The activity contributed to the development of advanced studies and analyses aimed at improving performance-based assessments and fire safety design through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation tools.
Fire Safety of Perimeter Closures in Civil Buildings: Performance Assessments and CFD Analyses Using Fire Safety Engineering Methods
Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering
Ai Engineering collaborated with Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering – on the research project “Fire Safety of Perimeter Closures in Civil Buildings: Performance Assessments and CFD Analyses Using Fire Safety Engineering Methods”, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Roberto Vancetti.
The initiative supported the development of advanced studies and simulations aimed at optimising the fire performance of building envelopes.
CFD Applications Using Fire Safety Engineering Tools for the Study of Experimentally Analysed Fire Prevention and Safety Phenomena
Politecnico di Torino – Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering
Ai Engineering is collaborating with Politecnico di Torino on the research project “CFD Applications Using Fire Safety Engineering Tools for the Study of Experimentally Analysed Fire Prevention and Safety Phenomena”, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Roberto Vancetti.
The project has contributed to expanding the application of advanced fluid dynamics models in support of experimental analyses and fire safety design.
Impact of Anthropogenic Noise on Bat Communities
University of Turin – TELT
Ai Studio and Ai Engineering participated in a study conducted with the University of Turin and TELT aimed at understanding whether noise pollution generated during the construction phases of major infrastructure projects has an impact on bat communities.
The research involved controlled noise emissions to assess potential effects on the target community. Data collected during the noise emission phase were compared with data gathered prior to the disturbance and with data from a control area where no noise was reproduced.
Ai contributed both through logistical and instrumental support and through the processing and analysis of the collected data.
Impact of Anthropogenic Noise on Moth Communities (Lepidoptera)
University of Turin – TELT
Ai Studio and Ai Engineering participated in a study conducted with the University of Turin and TELT aimed at investigating the potential effects of anthropogenic noise on moth (Lepidoptera) communities.
The field experiment was carried out during the summer of 2023 using controlled white noise emissions at 110 dB, generated by a dodecahedral sound source. The acoustic climate of the study area was continuously monitored using Class I sound level meters.
Seven sampling points were selected based on habitat type and other environmental characteristics to ensure comparability. Ai contributed both through logistical and instrumental support and through the processing and analysis of the collected data.